Remember remember the form of November: eyes out for Cheltenham Festival winners

When is it too soon to talk about the Cheltenham Festival? There is an annual debate about whether it is right to constantly nod to the sport's big dance or whether the obsession with it is bad for racing.

The truth is somewhere in the middle. It is important for the season to reach a captivating crescendo but other races, such as the Betfair Chase next week, will patently suffer if the focus is solely on March.

While it is important to recognise the three-day November meeting at the track is exciting in its own right – even in the absence of the twists and turns of the cross-country race – it is also informative and does serve as an ideal test for those harbouring festival ambitions.